BCCA Extension Officer, Naomi Purcell has been selected to represent the Wide Bay/Burnett/Fraser Coast region on the recently established Queensland Regional Community Forums.
A Queensland Government initiative, the program comprises of seven regions covering the whole of Queensland with approximately 20 people in each regional forum group. 144 members were selected out of a total of 330 applicants to represent various districts, industries and demographics.
The forums are intended to “bring locals, regional stakeholders and government representatives together each quarter to discuss local priorities and opportunities, and consider what outcomes are most important to the community” (https://campaigns.premiers.qld.gov.au/advancing-qld-regions/#wbfc).
The first forum was hosted in Maryborough and chaired by Mr Bruce Saunders MP. Also attending was The Honourable Grace Grace MP, Minister for Education and Minister for Industrial Relations and The Honourable Leanne Enoch MP, Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for the Arts. These Queensland Government representatives will continue with the Wide Bay/Burnett/Fraser Coast forums until the fourth and final forum.
The second forum was hosted in Cherbourg and built on the work carried out in forum one. All going to plan, the final forum will be hosted in Monto in the second half of 2020.
Naomi has been advocating strongly for agriculture and rural liveability and will continue to do so for the remainder of the program. Small business and rural employment are also high on Naomi’s agenda. It is great to have an opportunity to give rural and regional areas a voice amongst Queensland Government representatives.